Schumer asks FDA to ban bread chemical

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Sen. Charles Schumer is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to ban a chemical used in bread.

Schumer launched a campaign against the chemical Sunday, following an announcement last week by the Subway chain that it was voluntarily removing it from its bread.

Subway's move came after a food blogger launched a petition against the chemical, which has been linked to asthma.

Schumer said the chemical azodicarbonamide is banned for use in food in many countries and is used primarily to make rubbery products such as yoga mats and shoe rubber. He said many fast-food chains use it to condition their bread dough.

Schumer said when the chemical is heated during bread-baking, it forms trace amounts of semicarbazide, a known carcinogen which can cause tumors in humans.